How to Party Like a VIP Even on a Budget

Do you often ogle at your friends’ Facebook photos showing how they partied like celebrities in an ultra elite club lately? Do you stalk strangers on Instagram just to have a feel of how it’s like to rub elbows with the rich and famous? Do you often feel left out because you don’t have the money to go to these exclusive bars and clubs?

Believe it or not, the majority of people you see on these parties do not even have to spend a single dime to enjoy themselves. They were there because they were asked to be there. They don’t have to pay for anything because their presence is enough payment for their glass of drinks and food.

Here are ways to party like a VIP even if you have a limited budget:

1. Be a Part of the Industry

The people you see in these ultra exclusive parties have a common denominator. They all work in the industry—food, music, entertainment, media, etc. These are the jobs whose people are those that bars and pubs are after. If they want their parties to have the right people, they have to invite the people from these industries. If you work in one of these industries, you will most likely have access to parties because you would have friends and acquaintances in bars and clubs.

2. Attend the Events

If you just attend even one party (with or without having to pay), you’ll most likely receive an invitation for the next one and the next one after that. Attending the first party is a lot like making an investment. You invest your time and energy making friends and talking with the right people, so you can have access to the next parties on their calendars. Make the most out of that first party. Don’t be shy and mingle with the right crowd.

3. Make Yourself Relevant

In order to be a part of the VIP list, you have to make yourself indispensable to the party. It’s either you work in the same industry or you create a name for yourself out of it. For example, you can become a fashion blogger and create a following that’s the same as the target market of these parties you want to attend. If you are relevant enough in social media (a travel blogger will most likely receive an invitation), these bars and clubs will come knocking on your door for a chance to be featured in your blog.

4. Be Friendly to the Wait Staff

Who do you have to go through before being allowed to enter a club or a bar? It’s the receptionist out front, right? This person has the power to say yes or no to those who want to enter the event. If you are friendly enough or maybe even a generous tipper, the receptionist will remember you and will be lenient enough to allow you to enter the bar even if you are not part of the VIP list. At the end of the day, the people at the front desk have the power to control who gets in and who doesn’t.